Michigan Judge Drops Charges Against Trump 'Fake Electors'

A Michigan judge on Tuesday dismissed criminal charges against 15 supporters of President Donald Trump who presented themselves as an alternate slate of electors in 2020 after President Joe Biden won the state.

Judge Kristen D. Simmons of the 54-A District Court in Lansing said the office of Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) can’t proceed to trial with conspiracy, forgery, and other charges against the group, which included former Republican National Committee member Kathy Berden and ex-state GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock.

The case hinged on intent and the defendants “were executing their constitutional right to seek redress,” said Simmons in her 30 minutes of remarks from the bench.

“The prosecution would like the court to believe that these named defendants were savvy or sophisticated enough to understand fully the electoral process, which the court does disagree, because the document that was presented doesn’t even align with the level of sophistication that they want me to believe,” said Simmons, an appointee of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D).